Tower crane device

Abstract

A crane tower device includes a basket that supports a tower crane and sits within a bay formed by the vertical columns of a building under construction. The basket and the tower crane are supported by support stubs that are attached to the vertical columns. Because the lateral and vertical load is principally distributed vertically to the vertical columns rather than horizontally, no reinforcement of the horizontal beams, floors or any other portion of the building structure are needed, which results in substantial cost savings.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tower crane device comprising:
 a first basket supporting a tower crane that includes a tower; 
 a second upper basket slidably coupled to the tower; 
 a plurality of support members supporting the first basket and the tower crane with each support member directly attached to at least one of a plurality of respective vertical steel columns of a structure under construction, the plurality of vertical steel columns defining a periphery of a bay; and 
 a plurality of additional support members with each additional support member attached to at least one of the plurality of respective vertical steel columns of the structure under construction and supporting the second basket, wherein 
 the plurality of vertical steel columns includes at least three vertical steel columns, 
 each support member and additional support member has an uppermost surface, 
 at least two of the plurality of support members are positioned at a substantially right angle to each other, 
 the first basket rests on the uppermost surface of at least one of the two support members positioned at a substantially right angle to each other, and 
 the first basket is positioned within the bay. 
 
     
     
       2. The tower crane device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first basket comprises a plurality of outriggers spaced apart from each other with each outrigger being supported by the respective support member. 
 
     
     
       3. The tower crane device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of clamps each operable to secure the first basket to the respective support-member. 
     
     
       4. The tower crane device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first basket comprises a plurality of outriggers spaced apart from each other with each outrigger including a foot member operable to extend over and rest on the respective support member. 
 
     
     
       5. The tower craned device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 at least one foot member is operable to extend over and rest on at least two support members. 
 
     
     
       6. The tower crane device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first basket includes:
 an upper frame; 
 an outer frame having a larger diameter then the upper frame; and 
 a plurality of arms coupling the upper frame to the outer frame with each arm extending toward a respective support member. 
 
     
     
       7. The tower crane device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a climbing frame slidably coupled to the tower; and 
 a lifter attached to the second basket and the climbing frame, the lifter operable to: 
 raise the climbing frame with respect to the tower while the second basket is in a stationary position; and 
 raise the second basket with respect to the tower while the climbing frame is in a stationary position. 
 
     
     
       8. The tower crane device according to  claim 7  wherein
 after the second basket is raised the lifter is further operable to raise the first basket using the climbing frame while the second basket is in a stationary position. 
 
     
     
       9. The tower crane device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a climbing frame slidably coupled to the tower; 
 a frame locker having an unlocked position and a locked position that locks the climbing frame to the tower; 
 a basket locker having an unlocked position and a locked position that locks the second basket to the tower; 
 a lifter attached to the second basket and the climbing frame, the lifter operable to:
 raise the climbing frame with respect to the tower while the frame locker is in the unlocked position and the basket locker is in the locked position; and 
 raise the second basket with respect to the tower while the frame locker is in the locked position and the basket locker is in the unlocked position. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The tower crane device according to  claim 9  wherein
 after the second basket is raised the lifter is further operable to raise the first basket with respect to the tower while the frame locker is in the locked position and the basket locker is in the unlocked position. 
 
     
     
       11. The tower crane device according to  claim 10  wherein
 the frame locker comprises a first dog attached to one side of the climbing frame and a second dog attached to another side of the climbing frame. 
 
     
     
       12. The tower crane device according to  claim 10  wherein:
 the frame locker includes a first dog attached to one side of the climbing frame and a second dog attached to another side of the climbing frame; and 
 the basket locker includes two dogs attached to different sides of the second basket. 
 
     
     
       13. A tower crane device comprising:
 a first basket operable to support a tower crane; 
 a second basket slidably coupled to the tower crane and spaced apart from the first basket; 
 a plurality of first outriggers attached to the first basket and spaced apart from each other, each first outrigger having a foot; 
 a plurality of second outriggers attached to the second basket and spaced apart from each other, each second outrigger having a foot; 
 a plurality of first support members supporting the first basket and the tower crane with each first support member directly mounted to at least one of a plurality of respective vertical steel columns of a structure under construction, the plurality of vertical steel columns defining a periphery of a bay; and 
 a plurality of second support members with each second support member mounted to one of the plurality of respective vertical columns of the structure under construction, each second outrigger foot resting on a respective second support member; 
 a climbing frame slidably coupled to the tower crane; 
 a lifter attached to the second basket and the climbing frame, the litter operable to; 
 raise the climbing frame with respect to the tower while the second basket is in a stationary position; and 
 raise the second basket with respect to the tower while the climbing frame is in the stationary position, wherein 
 at least two of the plurality of first support members are positioned at a substantially right angle to each other, 
 each of the plurality of first support members has an uppermost surface, 
 each first outrigger foot rests on the uppermost surface of at least one of the two first support members positioned at a substantially right angle to each other, and 
 the first basket is positioned within the bay. 
 
     
     
       14. The tower crane device according to  claim 13 , wherein the first basket includes:
 an upper frame; 
 an outer frame having a larger diameter than the upper frame; and 
 a plurality of arms coupling the upper frame to the outer frame with each arm extending toward a respective support member. 
 
     
     
       15. The tower crane device according to  claim 13 , wherein
 at least one first outrigger foot rests on the uppermost surface of at least two first support members. 
 
     
     
       16. A tower crane device comprising:
 a lower basket operable to support a tower crane; and 
 a plurality of lower support members supporting the lower basket and the tower crane with each lower support member mounted to at least one of a plurality of respective vertical steel columns of a structure under construction, the plurality of vertical steel columns defining a periphery of a bay, and the lower support members supporting the lower basket to distribute the weight of the tower crane on the plurality of vertical columns of the structure; 
 an upper basket slidably coupled to the tower crane; and 
 a plurality of upper support members supporting the upper basket and the tower crane with each upper support member mounted to at least one of a plurality of respective vertical columns of the structure, the plurality of vertical steel columns positioned at the periphery of the bay, and the upper support members supporting the upper basket, wherein 
 the plurality of vertical steel columns of the structure under construction includes at least three vertical steel columns, 
 each of the plurality of lower support members and each of the plurality of upper support members has an uppermost surface, 
 at least two of the plurality of lower support members are positioned at a substantially right angle to each other, 
 at least two of the plurality of upper support members are positioned at a substantially right angle to each other, 
 the lower basket rests on the uppermost surface of at least one of the two lower support members that are positioned at a substantially right angle to each other, 
 the upper basket rests on the uppermost surface of at least one of the two upper support members that are positioned at a substantially right angle to each other, and 
 the upper basket and the lower basket are positioned within the bay. 
 
     
     
       17. The tower crane device according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the lower basket rests on the uppermost surface of at least two of the plurality of lower support members. 
 
     
     
       18. The tower crane device according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the upper basket rests on the uppermost surface of at least two of the plurality of upper support members.